Motability

If you’re in the market for a Motability car, it can be hard to know what to look for. There’s so many options out there that it can be hard to know where to even start your search.

So, to help you choose the perfect Motability vehicle to suit your needs, we’ve brought together these top tips. Ask yourself these questions and you’re sure to end up with an adapted car that will serve you well for years to come.

Automatic cars can be a real lifesaver for people with disabilities or injuries, allowing them to enjoy the freedom a vehicle provides, without the need to continuously depress the clutch pedal when changing gear. This can be a particularly important feature if your condition has left you with a weakened leg, but you still need to operate a car regularly.

Shell has joined forces with not for profit organisation fuelService to help drivers with disabilities receive assistance at the majority of its service stations. That’s because filling-up the car is one of the biggest challenges for the UK’s disabled drivers.

“Disabled drivers have always struggled to get their cars refuelled,” said Niall El-Assaad, fuelService’sfounder. “In the past the options were to use an infrared transmitter, but few service stations supported it, and at those that did, it hardly ever worked. The other option is to beep your horn, flash your lights and wave your blue badge about – which is potentially embarrassing and offers no guarantee of service.”

We are pleased to announce that the Brotherwood ‘WAV Weekend’ Event will be returning this April Bank Holiday Weekend, giving you the opportunity to explore and drive the UK's leading range of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in one place.

The most blue badge residents in England can be found in the South East of the country, according to data acquired via a freedom of information request by Volkswagen Motability scheme provider, Inchcape Volkswagen.

According to the request sent out to various councils on August 15th 2016, an estimated 364,116 blue badges were found to be in operation throughout South-East England.

Of the councils which provided data, the next highest number of active blue badges can be found in the North West (362,294), with the South West having the third most blue badge residents (279,251).

Now the clocks have gone back and a frosty chill has settled in, the Motability Scheme has shared its advice for driving safely this winter.

This winter driving checklist coincides with the annual Road Safety Week initiative (21-27 November) and has been compiled with Motability Scheme customers in mind.

Plan ahead:

• Aim to stick to main roads that will have been gritted and allow extra time in icy conditions.

• Check the weather forecast as well as online traffic reports before setting off to be aware of road conditions. If the weather conditions are severe or heavy snow is forecast, consider whether your journey is essential.

A long-serving customer of Derbyshire vehicle adaptation firm Autochair has paid tribute to its founder for helping his wife retain her independence for nearly 20 years.

John Edwards said the expertise of David Walker, who set up the firm more than 30 years ago, had greatly benefitted his wife Hetty’s life after a scooter hoist was first fitted into their car in 1997.

Mrs Edwards has arthritis, which makes it difficult for her to get about and which is why the couple had bought a scooter in the first place, but it was too heavy for them to lift into their then car, a Mitsubishi Shogun, if they wanted to go further afield.

Disabled motorists and their families can explore their motoring options and find out about the Motability Scheme at The Big Event in Northern Ireland this June. Showcasing the largest display of vehicles for disabled people in Northern Ireland, The Big Event is coming to the Eikon Exhibition Centre in Lisburn on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 June 2016 following a successful previous event in Belfast in 2014.

People buying their first mobility scooters will find a wealth of information to sift through. All of this information could potentially be useful when you’re narrowing down your choice, whittling your options down to just one mobility scooter that you’d eventually like to buy. At the start, though, it could all be too overwhelming. Instead, this useful information should make up the core of all of your research:

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U Can 2 Magazine would like to thank the advertisers that appear in this publication for their support and wish them continued success.U Can 2 is an independent publication and has no affiliation with any other organisation. The views expressed in U Can 2 do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher E.A.L. and its employees. Similarly the efficacy of any products and services featured are the sole responsibility of the supplier/manufacturer.